By Louisa Lane Clarke

The parson's wife in the parish generally is careful to avoid all assumption of authority and management of public affairs. She does not interfere with any of her husband's duties, or give her opinion, unasked, upon matters which belong to him. In the schools or in the almshouses, or such institutions where she visits, whatever her influence or authority may be, it is only that which she receives from her husband; and in all cases of doubtful disputation she refers the disputants to him, setting an example here as elsewhere of modest submission and humility. If she see that a change of discipline is necessary in any department, either she effects it in her husband's name with his approbation, or suggests it privately to him, that he may act as he thinks best, knowing that nothing is more unseemly than to see a woman usurping dominion, and wresting the power from lawful hands to indulge her own self-will.

Project Canterbury